Afridi breaks ground on Rs2b Jamrud projects

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Sunday visited District Khyber and laid the foundation stones of five development projects worth more than Rs2 billion in Jamrud.

The projects include a Nursing College in Jamrud at a cost of Rs636 million, establishment of AI classes at the Institute of Applied Sciences for Rs32 million, rehabilitation and solarisation of 21 drinking water schemes for Rs502 million, beautification of Jamrud Bazaar for Rs430 million, and widening, rehabilitation and improvement of the 10-kilometre Takhta Beg in Bara for Rs424 million.

Addressing the foundation-stone laying ceremony, the chief minister said people of his constituency had given him the highest number of votes among all tribal districts. "For the first time in the country's history, a chief minister has been elected from the tribal districts," he said, adding that he was indebted to the people of his constituency and was striving to distribute development projects across the province on the basis of justice.

He described the multi-billion-rupee projects as the people's right.

Referring to the situation facing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Afridi said the party leadership was passing through a difficult time and its leader was imprisoned despite being innocent. "We adopted all constitutional and democratic paths, approached the courts, but no one had the courage to arrange my meeting with Imran Khan," he said. He added that Khan's sisters were accused of discussing politics after meetings while his sons were denied even telephonic contact despite being non-political.

"We exhausted all avenues of reconciliation but nothing came of it. PTI has now reached a stage where there can be no reconciliation without resistance," the chief minister said.

He announced that a decisive public gathering would be held in Peshawar on August 5. "On August 5 we have to decide whether we accept slavery or take freedom. August 5 is the semi-final in which decisions will be made. The public must make this semi-final a success. Our youth are not cockroaches; they are the shaheens of Allama Iqbal. Whatever decision is taken on August 5, your chief minister will be in the front and the workers behind him," he declared.